When I sent Cheon Su-man away to Australia, I asked Grandfather about the Blue Wind Association.
"Please tell me about the Blue Wind Association. Just who are they that even with Grandfather's power, you say you cannot take revenge?"
Grandfather didn't speak and just quietly looked at me. Out of frustration, I pressed Grandfather again.
"What kind of relationship do you have with them that you are staying still? I need to know. Please tell me, Grandfather."
Grandfather, who had been sitting quietly, opened the safe behind him. It was Grandfather's personal safe, which even Manager Ha could not open. In the past, it was a safe that only opened after he passed away.
At that time, there was nothing inside. Grandfather took out a ledger from inside and placed it on the desk.
"Do you know what this is?"
"I don't know. It looks like a ledger, but..."
Grandfather's smile turned cold.
"It is the power I possess. How could I, a mere loan shark, safely pass through two fierce military regimes? It was the power of money."
That ledger, with nothing written on it, was the history of how Grandfather had lived.
"I will not pass this down to you. It is an item that must go into the grave with me when I die. Even if I used this to wage an all-out war against the Blue Wind Association, the chances of winning would not even be fifty percent. Even if I won, I would have lost everything. My family, my money, and even my life..."
I stared blankly at the ledger in Grandfather's hand. As if avoiding my gaze, Grandfather gripped the ledger tightly and looked down at it.
"Inside this, the politicians I have fed money to until now are written down evenly, regardless of whether they are the ruling party or the opposition party. Not only that, but high-ranking officials, soldiers, and almost all the people who held power in our country. Do you understand now why those people listen to my requests?"
I had vaguely guessed it. The reason I, who was designated as the successor after Grandfather passed away, couldn't properly exert my power was because I didn't inherit that ledger. 'Just what is the reason he is trying not to pass down that ledger?'
Grandfather's words continued.
"Even the upright opposition figures all ate my money. If they didn't take the money, I gave them even more money. Yes, I gave money to the Blue Wind Association too. It was in the late 1950s when I met him."
Grandfather spoke slowly, as if tracing back an old memory. Not them, but 'met him'.
"Did I tell you how I made my money? The start was confiscated properties."
"Yes, I remember."
"When the war ended and we came back to Seoul, that was the opportunity. While I was buying the confiscated properties sold off by the government and increasing my wealth by playing with money, I met a man. That was the beginning."
He wasn't talking about a fond memory. It was a regretful voice.
"That man was exerting quite a great deal of power in the government. I did many things with him. I, who was just quietly playing with money, started to deal with corporations with his help. And I gave him money."
A sigh as deep as the wrinkles on his face echoed inside the study.
"He created the Blue Wind Association. From then on, his intentions were different from mine. He tried to control Korea from behind the scenes, and I just liked making money. Still, I kept bringing him money. Because I needed power to protect the money I earned."
The story about the Blue Wind Association began in earnest.
"When the military regime came in, he conspired with the military and gathered power. That power was truly immense... From then on, the distance between him and me started to grow. Japanese money started going to that bastard. I found out later, but that bastard was a descendant of pro-Japanese collaborators."
I knew that pro-Japanese collaborators were involved, but hearing that the head of the Blue Wind Association was their descendant was a first.
"As time passed, we became estranged, and after the private loan freeze incident, I started giving the money I used to give to him to the powerful figures of the regime instead. We grew further apart like that. But then the president suddenly died and the Fifth Republic came into power, and he started working to hand over Myeon District’s private loan market to Japan."
As if the memories of that time were still vivid, anger surfaced on Grandfather's face as if it happened yesterday.
"I didn't care if they were pro-Japanese collaborators or whatever, but I couldn't stand them eyeing my territory. So for the first time, I used both money and the whip then. This ledger, I mean. Our relationship completely broke down at that time."
Seeing Grandfather tapping the ledger with his palm to suppress his anger, I also organized my thoughts. 'In the end, the private loan market being swallowed by Japanese funds after the IMF crisis was a battle that had already started back then.' Hearing Grandfather's words, the questions that couldn't be fully understood even with my knowledge of the future disappeared.
I couldn't understand how the private loan market had been handed over so easily, but as expected, it was a long-standing battle. Eventually, Grandfather calmed down, drank a glass of water, and continued speaking.
"The current Blue Wind Association has become an even worse monster than back then. The powerful figures from the Third Republic to the Fifth Republic have joined, and the descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators are playing their role as the money line perfectly. Politicians, journalists, conglomerates... It's not just pro-Japanese collaborators. A few democratic fighters who are called opposition figures and receive respect are also affiliated with them. The only person who knows all the members is probably the Association Leader."
I understood why Grandfather couldn't take revenge.
"Who is the person called the Association Leader?"
A chilling killing intent could be felt from Grandfather's eyes.
"Lee Yong-hyun. He is an unknown descendant of Lee Wan-yong. That guy is the very apex of the Blue Wind Association and the core of the forces secretly operating behind the Republic of Korea."
I finally found out the true identity of the Blue Wind Association Leader. The person who led my parents to their deaths. The person who killed me.
The person who used the brothers Cheon Su-man and Cheon Su-han as puppets.
"Is the current regime also with them?"
Grandfather nodded heavily.
"Even if the president is not, you have to consider that most of the officials and politicians working under him are within their sphere of influence. Even I don't know exactly who and how many from the ruling party and the opposition party are affiliated. If the president had been their limbs, he wouldn't have disbanded Hana-hoe. Since they are the core force of the Blue Wind Association."
The more I listened to Grandfather's words, the more I felt their power.
"Just what exactly is in that ledger that it is protecting you, Grandfather?"
"Hahaha. Do not try to know. Because it is a poisoned chalice. Mu-hyeok, the moment this ledger goes to you, you may gain power, but you will not be able to step out into the light. That is why I will not pass it down to you. Because it is karma that I must take to my grave."
I could feel Grandfather's heart, even just a little.
"I understand."
Grandfather smiled bitterly.
"For the time being, the Blue Wind Association will also be walking on eggshells around me. That is, if they know that a parent who has lost their child has nothing left to lose. But... to do that, you, Ji-won, Ji-soo, and Ji-young weigh heavily on my mind. Please understand."
Grandfather's eyes looking at me seemed sad. I met Grandfather's gaze without avoiding it.
"I understand. I will wait until the power to punish them arises. But please pass down that ledger too. Because we won't be able to win unless we risk everything to face them. Even if it leads me to ruin."
"But..."
"I am begging you."
Grandfather, who had been looking into my eyes for a long while, let out a deep sigh and nodded.
"Alright. If the day ever comes when you need this ledger, I will pass it down to you. But not right now."
"Yes, I know."
The conversation grew long. It was a time where I was able to understand Grandfather a little more. Time flowed uncontrollably like a river.
While spending each day busily, the end of 1994 was already approaching. The guys had all passed up to the third round of the bar exam and received their final passing notices. If they were to enter the Judicial Research and Training Institute next year, it would be too much to continue attending university.
"You're going to take a leave of absence, right?"
It was while we were eating to celebrate Myeong-soo's final passing. Myeong-soo stopped eating and looked at me.
"I have to. I can't just drop out. Isn't it a matter of my career? Batch numbers are important, but you can't ignore the Korea University title either."
The prosecution cares a lot about batch numbers. It's to the extent that it is considered customary for the senior batches to all step down if someone from a lower batch becomes the Prosecutor General.
"What about the rest of the guys?"
"Wouldn't they all take a leave of absence too? Once we graduate from the Judicial Research and Training Institute, we also have to go to the military, phew..."
"You're going to serve as a military judge advocate anyway, aren't you?"
"Still, the military is the military. How could you, who's exempted, understand my feelings about going to the military?"
I chuckled and picked up my spoon, but Myeong-soo asked as if he suddenly remembered something.
"Ah! Hyeon-seong contacted me too. To congratulate me. Do you guys still not contact each other?"
"Forget it. He'll contact me someday."
When Hyeon-seong's name came up, a bitter taste filled my mouth. Ever since we talked in Busan, I hadn't contacted Hyeon-seong. Hyeon-seong hadn't contacted me either.
"Oh man, you guys are ridiculous. It's not like you're dating."
I quickly changed the subject because I didn't want to talk about Hyeon-seong anymore.
"What about your parents?"
"I contacted them. They said they were coming up to Seoul, but I told them I would go down. It's almost winter break anyway, and it's been a long time since I went home. Are you coming with me?"
"No, I have to stay in Seoul for the time being. Go visit Grandma for me. She must be feeling lonely. I do talk to her on the phone every day, but..."
Myeong-soo twitched one eyebrow with a puzzled face.
"What are you talking about? Hyeon-seong visits her every day to keep her company, eats dinner with her, and then goes home. Didn't Grandma tell you?"
"Huh?"
It was the first time I was hearing this.
"Hah~ You guys are really ridiculous."
Myeong-soo's words didn't register in my ears. Myeong-soo looked at me with pathetic eyes and clicked his tongue.
"Just wait a bit. Hyeon-seong's insides must be a mess right now too. That punk is just big, but isn't he a softie? He can't do sports anymore, and he was probably both sorry and scared that you took revenge on his behalf."
Right, a bond doesn't get cut just because you try to cut it. I tried to throw away my lingering attachments, but it kept bothering me. I returned home and called Grandma.
I asked Grandma, who was asking how I was doing as always.
"Grandma, I heard Hyeon-seong visits you every day?"
"Huh? How did you know? Hyeon-seong told me not to tell you."
"Myeong-soo told me. Since when has he been coming?"
"He came by about a month after you went up to Seoul. Oh my, he didn't even say anything and just bawled his eyes out. Since that day, he's visited every day to keep me company and eat meals together."
"You should have told me. Oh, Grandma, really."
"Hyeon-seong asked me to. He said you were busy and to not bring it up unnecessarily. Did you guys fight? Why would boys who didn't even fight when they were young act like this?"
"No, it's nothing like that."
"Hyeon-seong is my kid too, and Myeong-soo is my kid too. I've been spending my time well thanks to him, so don't worry about your Grandma."
"Yeah. I'll go down soon."
"Alright."
After ending the call with Grandma, I lay down on the bed and fell into thought while staring at the ceiling. 'Let's wait and see. He'll contact me someday.'
It felt like it would have the opposite effect if I contacted him first. That day, I was able to fall asleep with a slightly more at-ease mind.
December arrived.
The streets were entirely covered with Christmas trees and carols, and the sound of bells started ringing next to the Salvation Army charity pots. As December 20th approached, I grew nervous. The peso had been steadily dropping little by little since June, but what if the future changed because of my betting? - Mu-hyeok, it's really the 20th, right?
I haven't been able to do any work for days.
"Brother, let's trust and wait."
Just like the original history, the chaos in Mexico had reached its peak. Even if I was anxious, it was already irreversible. I had no choice but to trust my memory.
And finally, December 21st in Korean time. The day of the decisive battle arrived. It was early dawn, but sleep wouldn't come.
It wasn't an era where the internet was advanced, so it was difficult to know the situation in Mexico in real time. I stayed up all night with my eyes wide open. At 5 AM, I answered the phone immediately as soon as my cell phone rang.
"This is Kim Mu-hyeok." - Mu-hyeok!
The Mexican government... expanded the fluctuation range of the exchange rate against the US dollar to 13%. They devalued it just like you said! My tension was released in an instant.
< Who is the person called the Association Leader? > The End.